Maybe I shouldn’t mention good news. After Saturday’s celebration of a marvelous week I was enthusiastic about my financial recovery. That’s remains true. Then, yesterday they posted a Notice of Default on my front door.  It sounds more like a Notice of Foreclosure and definitely mentions the possibility that they’ll sell my house within 30 to 120 days. That happened a hour or so after I got the call about a family medical emergency. They both happened on a day when my portfolio witnessed other investors’ profit taking. None were a great surprise, but I had good reason to believe that the first two wouldn’t happen for months, and no reason to expect them to happen simultaneously. So, instead of writing about some of my friends’ responses to their situations, I’m going to chronicle mine, again. This period of my life has been so epic that, looking back from a few years from now, selective amnesia would probably wipe most of it from my memory. Selective amnesia is also why I think everyone should have a voice at these times, so that in the future we will remember so we can learn.

Reiterate the good news, Tom; because, looking at the positive is what will get me through. I’m getting into a groove as Project Director for the HCLE Virtual Museum, and as Information Manager for New Road Map. Together they make less than a half-time job, which means there is room for a short-term part-time interesting gig for Whidbey’s art community, which I won’t announce until they do. And there are at least three other opportunities that have yet to commit, or to even pass along their requirements and compensations. I don’t recall any more art sales since Saturday, but one local bookstore sold out of the book that’s the basis of this blog.  They asked for more copies and I was happy to deliver them. I expected some pull back in the stocks after their marvelous jump, but Monday surprised me with a continued rise. AMSC, GIG, MVIS, and RSOL have all had recent jumps, and have all pulled back, but are all above their recent lows. My portfolio has regained enough value to eclipse my credit card debt, but not enough to retire the mortgage.

So, logically and strategically, my life is improving. Life, however, is also emotion. Emotionally, the stocks weren’t a cause for celebration, the family news dimmed my spirits a bit, and then the Notice of Default knocked me off balance. Logically, I should call the list of phone numbers on the Notice, and I shall. Emotionally, I know I should take a few breaths, regain some balance, and then make those calls in a more logical frame of mind.

In the meantime, I’ve taken the modern move of mentioning the notice on Facebook. Some argue that social media is narcissistic or self-centered, if there’s even a difference, but for a single person, somewhat geographically isolated, dealing with personal news later than the polite phone call window, posting such news is the best way to find community quickly. At this point, 24 people have offered advice, condolences, and similar stories. A few have reached me more privately with more personal questions and more detailed suggestions. One even was kind enough to do some quick research that suggests I have 140 days before having to move. If so, I have until the beginning of October to find a place to stay.

Logically, 140 days is a lot of opportunity. While that may be the best guess, my emotions are driven by the phrase on the sheet “a notice of sale may be issued as soon as 30 days from the date of this notice of default”.

I am in a race. My business is improving. The social media consulting is doing particularly well. (“I learned as much from you in three hours as I did in two years on my own.”) My portfolio is improving (just not as I type.) The housing market in and around Seattle is improving. I liked the rumored factoid that the majority of house sales in Seattle are the result of multiple bids. (My house is for sale.)  There’s even been the rumor of the suggestion of a possible full-time job (gasp!). Races are defined by timing, and most of those revenues are due next month at the earliest. The sum of the guaranteed receivables is still less than enough to forestall the foreclosure. The sum of the possible receivables is much more than enough. The mortgage entrant in the race is inexorable, and yet mysterious. The paperwork involves many waffle words, they “may” do this or that. Money is power and until I have sufficient funds, they are in control. I’m racing to get control back, and to finish this race by reaching my goal first.

Last night, one of my dear friends offered to start a collection for me within a particular community. I declined for a few reasons:
1) I’m an optimist and think my various plans will succeed.
2) Finding one person to buy my house is more powerful and final than asking dozens for thousands.
3) My main issue isn’t my house. My main issue is finding sufficient income, like a good job, good sales, enough students, or a large enough portfolio.
4) I know I’m not the only one in that community with this problem. If we solve it for me, we should be ready to solve it for everyone. I’m merely someone who can be public about my situation because I have no partner or dependents whose lives would be dragged into the spotlight, and because I’d like to see us get past a lot of our taboos about talking about money. To be honest about that I have to be willing to be open about it in good times and in bad times. I’m really looking forward to writing about the good times again. Saturday was good practice.

The economy appears to be heading into a fragile and fragmented boom. The stock market indices are doing very well. Housing markets are improving. Unemployment is down. But the fundamentals of the economy are worrisome; e.g. Euro-debt, China’s unsustainable growth, and US Federal Debt. (Imagine the FED having to deal with a foreclosure notice taped to their front door.) Some folks are doing very well. Many are returning to old habits, as if their storm is past. But, many are finding themselves locked out of opportunity. Some employers use applicants’ credit ratings as a hiring criterion. So, if you’ve had credit problems because you couldn’t get a job, you might not be able to get a job because you have credit problems.

Is anyone surprised that millions of people bought tickets for a Powerball lottery that was worth over a half a billion dollars? The daydreams of those in similar situations to mine had an interesting commonality. Win the lottery, pay off the debt, never deal with creditors again, buy a house, go off-the-grid, and retreat from the madness after spreading the wealth to others in need. The dream is no longer to jump in and join the rest by buying luxury homes, cars, and yachts. The dream is to redefine a way of life because they’ve seen the underside of the life most folks are expected to live.

I’m an optimist. Eventually my situation will improve. Eventually our situation will improve. And the best way for situations to improve is to be openly aware of what works and what doesn’t, to understand the logical and the emotional, and to remember enough to learn without being trapped by the past.